Thimble



SePt- 20, 1960 E. H. FowLr-:R 2,953,286

BMMMMM' TTORNEX United States Patent O THllVIBLE Eileen H. Fowler, 2126 N. 25th Place, Phoenix, Ariz.

Filed June 5, 1958, Ser. No. 740,031

lZ Claims. (Cl. 223-101) This invention relates to thimbles, and is particularly directed to a thimble which is safer and more convenient .to use.

One of the objects of this invention is to facilitate the manipulation of a sewing thimble under all conditions of use.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved sewing thimble which may be comfortably used by persons with extended linger nails.

And still another object of this invention is to provide an improved sewing thimble which is properly ventilated yet safe from penetration of the needle through the thimble to harm the linger.

Further features of this invention will appear from a detailed description of the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top elevation view of a thimble incorporating the features of this invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the thimble shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is au enlarged sectional of Figs. l, 2 and 4.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figs. 1 and 3.

As an example of one embodiment of this invention there is shown a thimble comprising a linger engaging easing or shell preferably of attened oval shape as best shown in Fig. 4 to comfortably fit the linger 11 of the user. The front or outer end of casing 10 is provided with a closure formed integrally therewith. The closure comprises a lower wall 12 and an upper wall 12a. Lower wall 12 is curved to conform with the end of nger 11 and extends inwardly of the casing beyond the axis thereof to terminate lat its free upper edge 17.

view on the line 3--3 The upper wall 12a of the closure extends inwardly ofA the casing towards the axis of the casing 'and outwardly beyond upper edge 17 of lower wall 12 so as'to provide a Ventilating space or passage 18 in communication with the interior of the casing 21.

The lower free edge 16 of upper Wall 12a overlaps the upper edge of lower wall 12 a small distance suliicient ICC to protect against laccidental insertion of needle head 14 of needle 15 through Ventilating passage 18.

It can be seen that the usual needle head engaging indentations 13 lare provided on the outer surfaces of walls 12 and 12a.

Additionally, the juncture of upper wall 12a and cas` ing 10 is located outwardly beyond free edge 17 of the lower wall 12 to provide a space 19 for accommodating finger nail 20.

It will thus be noted that the Ventilating space 18 eliminates entrapment of air in the head of the thimble as the linger 11 is inserted and at the same time Ventilates the outer end of the linger for greater operating comfort and eliiciency. It will also be noted that the needle head 14 cannot get into the Ventilating slot and engage the linger 11 since the overlapped portion of wall 12a precludes that happening. Thus a highly eicient thimble structure having Ventilating means and adapted to be used by persons with long linger nails and with perfect protection from the needle is provided.

While the apparatus herein disclosed and described constitutes a preferred form of the invention, it is also to be understood that the apparatus is cap-able of mechanical alteration without departing from the spirit of the invention and that such mechanical arrangement and commercial adaptation as fall within the scope of the appendent claims are intended to be included herein. Having thus fully set forth Kand described this invention what is claimed and desired to be obtained by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A thimble comprising a nger engaging casing having an outer end closure, said outer end closure comprising upper and lower walls formed integrally With said casing,r said lower Wall being curved to conform with the end of the linger and extending inwardly of the casing beyond the axis thereof, said lower Wall having needle head engaging indentations in the outer surface thereof, said upper wall extending inwardly of the casing toward the axis of the casing and spaced outwardly beyond the upper edge of the lower wall so as to provide 4a ventilating passage in communication with the interior of the casing, the free edge portions of said upper and lower walls being in overlapped relation.

2. A thimble as in claim 1 in which the juncture of said upper wall and said casing is located outwardly beyond the free edge of said lower wall to provide a nger nail accommodating space above said edge.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,447,774 Salisbury Aug. 24, 1948 2,609,978 Harden Sept. 9, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 669,270 Great Britain Apr. 2, 1952 

